On January 18, I was on Qeshm Island in the south of Iran and on that day I wanted to find out where I would end up without knowing exactly where to go or where to sleep. so I hit the road with nothing but my clothes on my back and a camera in my pocket.

If there is something I learned during my travel – you will NEVER end up alone and that day proofed it once again!

To travel means to be free.

And what happened on that day was the definition of freedom for me.

The freedom to trust others, the nature and myself.

Hangem Island is a small island in the south of Iran and the reasons why I chose this place was because it’s 1. Not too far away. 2. There aren’t a lot of people 3. It’s well known for its Beautiful beaches
So all in all a great place to stay for the night even without a place to sleep

But first let me show you how easy it is to hitchhike in Iran:

The most important thing is to explain what hitchhiking is, to make sure that it’s no tarof and to make clear where you want to go, because some drivers just stop out of curiosity.

And I’m telling you the so called “ferry” was already a big adventure. There were 4 other people on the boat and it took only a few minutes to agree that we will all camp together. Suddenly a few strangers turned into a team that shared their food, tea and everything with each other. They even insisted to share their tent with me but my mind was already prepared to sleep in the wild.

The beach was our own paradise of freedom. No phone signal, just a few travellers, a bonfire and the ocean. This was a day of appreciation for our lives and the people who are part of it, not the objects. We should all allow ourselves to feel a little free. “Follow your dreams”, as cheesy as it sounds, but do it!

Never ignore the facts, especially the ugly ones. But do understand that it’s your game. You get to write the rules and you decide how you want to to travel.

Sometimes all it takes is to go with the flow. And everything else will come on its own.

Shiraz is a really nice and quite calm city. The old town doesn’t allow cars which makes it easy and relaxed to walk around and explore the old bazaar. In Shiraz I met an Iranian family via Couchsurfing as well as an italian traveller and two spanish friends on their way to India.

It’s really interesting to hear all the different travel stories and how everyone has a different goal in Iran.

Persepolis is an ancient town that is 1 hour drive from Shiraz and a must visit when in Shiraz. To be honest it wasn’t that interesting for me and I’d rather visited the desert (which I still didn’t manage to do!). But for everyone who is interested in history and especially old places it’s definitely worth to go there!

In Shiraz we went to the oldest traditional restaurant where I ate some kebab and of course I visited the pink mosque, the holy shrine and in the evenings we cooked or sat together drinking tea. I had a lovely time in Shiraz, thanks to my Iranian friends 🙂

I was really excited to go to Isfahan – to the “half of the world”, because every book and every website mentions Isfahan as THE to go place in Iran. No traveler should miss that city. Unfortunately I just arrived at night in the hostel and the next day it rained non-stop. So I decided to take it easy, stayed in the hostel and edited some videos.

It is okay to just not go outside and be active the whole time, especially when you are on the road for a few weeks. This made me even more excited to go out and spend the whole day exploring after my short break and rest time.

And I didn’t get disappointed! It was a beautiful day spent in Isfahan and I visited the big square, the mosque, a traditional tea house, the Chehel Sotoun Palace, the bazaar and of course the bridges. Nowadays the river is not flowing anymore and instead, there is only a lot of sand left. Even it looks sad it was still fun to walk on the “river”.

At the big square I got a little bit annoyed by all the Iranian tour guides that talked in German with me and tried to sell me a tour or a “free tea” in their bazaar shop. It also happened that a few youngsters talked to me about Hitler and how much they like him because he was a powerful man. I tried to make them understand that I don’t agree with them but I guess that didn’t change their minds.

However, Isfahan is beautiful and has a lot of attractions, but for the first time during my trip I felt a negative impact of the tourism industry and I’m afraid that it won’t get better but worse.

I know there is a lot of desert in Iran and I expected to visit it during my stay in Kashan BUT then I fell in love with the small city itself and the Abyaneh Village which is not too far from Kashan. What I liked most about Kashan was that it is not so crowded like all the other touristic cities and of course that it has its own desert atmosphere.

I always wondered how it is to be alive thousands of years ago. Kashan is a magical city that exactly makes you feel like you are in a different time and offers much more than only the desert.

There are a lot of traditional houses to explore where you can get lost and stroll around for hours. In my head I imagined how the people were living here hundreds of years ago, what kind of discussions they had and how they furnished their houses. These places will definitely play with your fantasy.

And of course there is Kashan’s historical mosque and the traditional bazaar which offers you a perfect spot for an Iranian breakfast.

If you ever wondered how the most beautiful historical garden of the Middle East looks like then you shouldn’t skip going to Fin Garden. It’s a place to relax and not too far from the city.

Although there are so many sites in Kashan that are impressive and just beautiful I didn’t see a lot of travellers and most of the time I was the only person visiting a site. It seems that the city is still quite undiscovered by tourists which makes it a great time to visit right now.

On the other hand there is the abyaneh village which attracts more people due to it’s unique historical charme. This village is one of the oldest in Iran and has been called the window to Iranian history and people also say that it’s a living museum. It’s a really picturesque city and the locals seem like really cool people as well.

After a comfortable 2 hour bus ride from Qom I arrived in Kashan. This small city is known for its traditional houses and trips to the manjabi desert. Kashan is a beautiful small town with some great historical places like a traditional bath house or its over 400 years old mosque in the center of the city.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to visit the desert but I had a lot of fun discovering the town and talking to some local people. What I love about Kashan is that it's really quit and the fact that you won't meet a lot of people in most of the tourist attractions.

Iranians love drinking tea no matter where they are. This picture was taken at 11pm inside a car.

Qom is a very important and holy city for most Iranians, not so much for tourists. So when I said that I’m going to Qom I got some confused looks and people asked me why would I go there. I didn’t really know but then I quickly realized that it’s definitely worth a visit!

Qom has some really great architecture and beautiful buildings. The holy shrine is one of the most impressive buildings in Iran and a lot of pilgrims come here from all around the world.

First I was unsure if I could just go there or if my dress code was appropriate, but then locals were really friendly and showed me where to go. Tourists enter on entrance 17. Inside the entrance your bag gets checked and in my case they cave me appropriate clothing.

The women were so nice to me! They gave me chocolate and organized a tour guide for me who showed me around.

After the holy shrine I walked to the mosque nearby and an afghan girl talked to me. We took a picture together and talked a while. It’s heartwarming how friendly everyone is and that they are curious about their visitors.

Qom was definitely a great experience and Im glad I decided to got there.

After a really short and sleepless night I arrived at Tehran's International Airport. As soon as we landed all the women took on their head scarf and it was like a different world just opened up in front of the plane.

Luckily I obtained my evisa for Iran before and was able to just pass easy peasy going the immigration. Nevertheless it was really early (4am) and the first metro wouldn't go before 7am.

Exploring the arrival hall was kind of a nerve wrecking thing as taxi drivers didn't leave my side and even followed me to upstairs. There were also a lot of men who tried to exchange my money on the black market but I preferred to use the official money exchange at the airport. I was just really really confused and still didn't figure it out.

Never mind after that I waited until I took the Metro to the city center. I was impressed that the metro had seat heating and a cabin for women only!

In the hostel I just hoped I could directly fall in my bed and as lucky I am a bed was free and I spent my time until 2pm sleeping like a baby 😴

The afternoon I spent exploring the hostels neighborhood and realized that everybody was staring at me. I didn't feel uncomfortable but tomorrow I'll cover my hair completely and hope to be a little bit more undercover :D

My first impression of Tehran is great! There are a lot of similarities to Turkey, like the bazaars, street vendors or the fact that no car cares about the pedestrians :D

Tomorrow afternoon I'll be heading to the most religious city of Iran: Qom!

ENGLISH

Step 1: Preparing your documents

Before you start your online application make sure that you have all the necessary information to complete it 100%. Click here to get forwarded to the list of documents and information you will need.
I made sure that I had a flight and hotel (for the first night) booked in advance so that I could provide an Iranian address for my stay as well as a phone number and flight dates.
They also need a digital photo copy of the passport and a personal photo with specific measurements. I made the photo by myself and resized it with a photo editing tool. The personal photo must be in a ratio of 4:6 and equal or less than 500kb in file size.The passport copy must be in a ratio of 8:6 and equal or less than 500kb in file size.

Do women need to wear a headscarf on their visa photo?
No, but it will lower the chance of getting rejected. In my case I didn’t cover my hair on the photo (and I’m bright blonde) and got accepted after 2 days, but surely it can depend on the person who is checking your visa application.

Step 2: Applying for the E-Visa through the MFA website

Make sure that you have a stable internet connection and preferably fill in the form on a computer and not on your phone as you should print the final page for further process. Click here to get forwarded to the officialE-Visa online registration form.
Filling in the form is easy and takes no longer than 10 minutes.
They ask for your closest Iranian consulate and the length of your stay. For me it was the Irian Consulate in Istanbul and I asked for a stay of 27 days.

After submitting the application it says to go to the nearest Iran consulate as soon as possible to hand in the original documents. In my case I waited a few days and got accepted without showing up beforehand. So I think it will be a waste of time to go there before it got accepted. But if your application is in review for more than a few days I would show up and ask for the status.

Step 3: Going to your nearest Iranian Consulate

After 3 days my visa application got approved. I applied on a Thursday and it got approved on Saturday. So after that I printed my application form and went to the nearest Iranian Consulate (in my case in Istanbul) with my passport.

I can just tell you about my experience with the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul as I made a few mistakes and wish I knew them before I went there.

First of all, the website and the application letter gave wrong information about the opening hours of the consulate. So I went there at 8 am to find out that it opens at 8:30 am and then got rejected because visa issues will only be handled between 2-3:30pm.

I went back at 2pm and got inside the consulate. Phones or bags are not allowed and it’s advised to wear a headscarf. Inside the consulate, there is one waiting room where you can get a waiting number. But don’t get fooled! Nobody cares about what number you have 😀

So after waiting for 1 hour to get called to the visa counter I figured out that they play “first in time, first in line”. So don’t wait. The “visa room” is divided by a glass door and there is one counter where all the people wait to speak with one officer. Just go to the counter and hand over your passport and your approved visa application letter.

After that you will get a piece of paper with an Iban Number and the amount of money you have to pay for the visa. In my case (German citizen) it was 50 EUR. So after the officer gives you this paper he won’t tell you where to pay 😀 After being confused for a while I found out that I have to leave the consulate to go to the nearest bank and pay there. They only accepted cash money, but all in all, it was an easy process. Just confusing to leave the consulate and walk to the bank. After you paid the banker will give you a receipt of your payment.

After that, you go back to the consulate and hand in your passport and the receipt. Then he will give you a piece of paper that tells you when to come back to collect your passport and visa. In my case it was 5 working days later.

Step 4: Picking up your passport and visa

After 5 days I went back to the consulate (they told me to go exactly at 3:30 pm) to collect my passport. That was easy as I just went back to the counter and showed the piece of paper with my passport number which they gave me when I left my passport there. The officer asked about my name and nationality and handed me my passport. I checked the visa and got a visa for the 27 days I applied for! 🙂

Step 5: Traveling to Iran

Now it’s time to finally travel to Iran! At the airport in Iran or at the Iranian border (if you travel over land) you just show your passport and that’s it. You’re in and ready to explore this beautiful country 🙂

FAQ

In my case, I did not wear a headscarf on my photo and got easily approved for the visa. Anyways, I would not take the risk and just put a photo with a headscarf. You never know which officer looks through your application and it may differ from person to person!

It depends from case to case, where you apply and which nationality you have. In my case it took 8 working days from applying to getting the visa in my passport. Make sure to apply around 1 month before your travel to have enough time.

Yes, it’s possible to apply as many times as you want. Sometimes they reject with the reason: please apply through a travel agency. In this case I would go with a travel agency that can organize your visa.

Yes! It’s obligatory to have valid travel insurance while traveling in Iran and it’s definitely advised. It’s possible to buy a travel insurance at the airport of Tehran or just make sure to print your existing travel insurance which states that it’s valid in Iran.

FAQ

In my case, I did not wear a headscarf on my photo and got easily approved for the visa. Anyways, I would not take the risk and just put a photo with a headscarf. You never know which officer looks through your application and it may differ from person to person!

It depends from case to case, where you apply and which nationality you have. In my case it took 8 working days from applying to getting the visa in my passport. Make sure to apply around 1 month before your travel to have enough time.

Yes, it’s possible to apply as many times as you want. Sometimes they reject with the reason: please apply through a travel agency. In this case I would go with a travel agency that can organize your visa.

Yes! It’s obligatory to have valid travel insurance while traveling in Iran and it’s definitely advised. It’s possible to buy a travel insurance at the airport of Tehran or just make sure to print your existing travel insurance which states that it’s valid in Iran.

Click here to find out more about my 4-week travel in Iran as a solo female traveler!

ENGLISH

The first time I came to Istanbul was back in 2012 and since ever then I love love love this city! It has its very own charm. The Bosphorus, the vibrant nightlife, Turkish traditions and people from all over the world that live here make it to one of my favorite cities. And it’s never getting boring here!

This video shows one day strolling around in different parts of Istanbul: Starting with a Turkish breakfast in Ortaköy, sitting near the seaside in Yeniköy, getting lost in the old town and its colorful bazaars and ending the day on the Asian side with a nice view from Üsküdar and Cengelköy 🙂

Contrary to the belief of a number of people, the Philippines is not only limited to the traffic jams of Manila. There is so much more to it.

The Philippines has 7,107 islands to choose from. Do you want to experience life by the beach? Do you want to conquer the highest peaks in the country? Do you want to walk the busy streets of the concrete jungle? Name it, and the Philippines has it. And because it is made up of thousands of islands, there are so many options and so many activities that you can do.

If you’re planning to travel around Southeast Asia, you must not ignore the Philippines. Not convinced? Here are 25 things that might change your mind.

1. The Philippines is the perfect tropical getaway

as it maintains an average temperature of 26.6°C all year round. There are no extreme hot or cold temperatures, so your body won’t have to adjust too much. Plus, you can get to enjoy a vacation at the beach any time of the year.

2. The country has a lot of beautiful white sand beaches

that easily resemble the tropical paradise of your dreams. Nothing will beat the feeling of ditching your flip-flops as you sink your toes into the fine white sand. Add in the pristine water and laid-back vibes, you might never want to leave.

These are some of the places with the best white sand beaches that you must visit:

Bantayan Island, Cebu

Malapascua Island, Cebu

Malcapuya Island, Coron

Daku Island, Siargao

Pacifico Beach, Siargao

Mati, Davao Oriental

Panglao Island, Bohol

3. Here you can still find untouched nature

While there are beaches that are already known to many, there are even more of unspoiled beaches in the country. Here, you will find serenity and be able to relax without unwanted noise from other tourists.

These are some of the “virgin” beaches in the country:

Malamawi Island, Basilan

Carnaza Island, Cebu

Bonbon Beach, Romblon

Balimanok Beach, Pangasinan

Vulugan Beach, Batanes

Bolobadiangan Island, Iloilo

4. There are pink beaches in the Philippines too!

You don’t need to go to Harbour Island in Bahamas, Balos Bay in Greece, or Spiaggia Rosa in Sardinia, because this tropical country in Southeast Asia is also a home to a few rose-tinted sand beaches. They are a bit harder to find than the white sand beaches, but they will definitely be worth the trip!

These are the known pink beaches in the country:

Santa Cruz Island, Zamboanga

Sila Island, Northern Samar

Subic Beach, Sorsogon

Tikling Island, Sorsogon

Pundaguitan Beach, Davao Oriental

5. Ever swam with sea turtles?

If the beautiful beaches aren’t enough to convince you to visit the Philippines, you have to know that you can swim with sea turtles, locally known as “pawikan,” as well. It’s not every day that you get to do swim alongside these magnificent animals, so you might as well grab the chance while you can.

Here are some of the spots where you can swim with sea turtles:

Apo Island, Negros Oriental

Balicasag Island, Bohol

Pescador Island, Cebu

Turtle Islands, Palawan

6. Swimming with whale sharks

Have you tried swimming with a creature that is as big as a bus? You can do that in the Philippines. Swimming with whale sharks is quite a popular tourist activity in the country. Although it has become quite controversial as these gentle giants are being fed by humans in Oslob, Cebu, which alters their food hunting habits, there are a few other places where they are able to roam and hunt freely.

Here are the places that are known to have whale shark sightings:

Donsol Bay, Sorsogon

Tubbataha Reef, Palawan

Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte

7. Ever heard of a sardine run?

No, sardines don’t run. They swim. And you can swim with millions of them in Moalboal, Cebu. What’s even amazing about it is that you won’t have to swim that far or dive too deep to see them because the sardine run takes places just a few meters off the beach!

8. The Philippines is the Surfer’s Paradise

As the Philippines is surrounded by the Celebes Sea, the Philippine Sea, the South China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean, you are guaranteed to find great surfing spots in various parts of the country.

Here are the known surfing destinations in the country:

Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte

Lanuza Bay, Surigao del Sur

Baler, Aurora

San Juan, La Union

San Antonio Zambales

Calicaoan, Eastern Samar

9. In the Philippines, you can find many breath-taking (literally) diving spots

that boast of rich marine life, such as various species of sea creatures and vibrant beds of corals. Many people from different parts globe visit the country to just to see these for themselves.

Here are some of the world-class diving spots:

Apo Island, Negros Oriental

Apo Reef, Mindoro Occidental

Ticao Pass, Masbate

Monad Shoal, Cebu

Tubbataha Reef, Palawan

Honda Bay, Palawan

Blue Hole, Romblon

Enchanted River, Surigao del Sur

10. If you want to experience the island nightlife

the Philippines has got you covered. Partying in the club is one thing, but dancing the night away by the beach is a totally different story.

Here are some of the places where you can experience the lively island nightlife:

White Beach, Boracay Island

Ibiza Beach Club, Mactan, Cebu

Alona Beach, Panglao Island

11. There are a lot of hiking destinations

in the Philippines as it has a multitude of mountains, hills, and volcanoes. In some areas, camping is allowed. You can lay under the stars, breathe the fresh air, listen to the sounds of nature, and if you’re lucky, even capture a Milky Way sighting or a shooting star on your camera.

Here are some of the many picturesque hiking destinations:

Makiling, Laguna

Yangbew, Benguet

Pulag, Benguet

Pico de Loro, Batangas

Apo, Davao del Sur

Pinatubo, Zambales

Taal Volcano, Batangas

12. This tropical country has plenty of waterfalls

small and big. Even the island of Cebu alone has 90. So, you are bound to find one almost wherever you go.

Here are some of the most popular waterfalls to date:

Kawasan Falls, Cebu

Asik-Asik Falls, North Cotabato

Tinago Falls, Lanao del Norte

Maria Cristina Falls, Lanao del Norte

Tinuy-An Falls, Surigao del Sur

Cambugahay Falls, Siquijor

Ditumabo Falls, Aurora

Casaroro Falls, Negros Oriental

13. One of the most beautiful natural phenomena is the sea of clouds

and you can witness this in multiple areas in the Philippines. A hike is required, obviously, but all the steps you make will be worth it when you find yourself standing above the clouds. Not directly, of course.

Here are some of the best locations to witness the sea of clouds:

Pulag, Benguet

Kiltepan, Sagada

Danao, Bohol

14. There are many places to watch the sunset by the sea

While there are also many spots in the world where you can get a beautiful view of the sunset, even when you’re just driving along the road, seeing the sun go down into the spotless horizon will give you an entirely different experience.

These are a few of the best spots to watch the sunset by the sea:

White Beach, Boracay Island

Bantayan Island, Cebu

Anawangin Island, Zambales

Manila Bay, Manila

15. The Philippines has the longest underground river in the world

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River in Palawan is an 8.2-kilometer navigable river, which flows into the South China Sea. Tours last about 45 minutes to an hour and are usually pre-booked.

16. Marvel at the beauty of the Banaue Rice Terraces

which are just as beautiful, but also different, as the ones in Nepal, China, and Indonesia.

17. There are colorful festivals

in different parts of the country all year round. Locally known as “fiesta,” people gather in their respective towns to witness their annual celebrations. Some festivals are in honor of religious figures and folklore, while others are nature-related.

Here are some of the must-see Philippine festivals:

Panagbenga Festiva in Baguio

Ati-atihan Festiva in Aklan

Sinulog Festiva in Cebu

Kadayawan Festival in Davao

Dinagyang Festiva in Iloilo

Masskara Festival in Bacolod

Pintados Festiva in Tacloban

Moriones Festiva in Marinduque

Pahiyas Festiva in Quezon

18. Historical and beautiful churches

Being a predominantly Catholic nation, the Philippines is a home to a plethora of beautiful churches. A number of these have been standing for hundreds of years, with some housing centuries-old relics.

There are a few of the beautifully constructed churches around the country:

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Bulacan

Church of Saint Augustine, Ilocos Norte

Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Church, Albay

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Manila

Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours, Batangas

Carmel Chapel, Batanes

19. The Philippines has several bird watching spots

Being a home to about 200 endemic birds, the country is also a known migration spot for birds coming from other countries, like Japan and Taiwan, during winter time.

Here are some of the best bird-watching spots:

Olango Island, Cebu

Rajah Sikatuna National Park, Bohol

Angat Dam, Bulacan

La Mesa Eco Park, Quezon City

Candaba Wetlands and Bird Sanctuary, Pampanga

Palay-Palay, Cavite

Wawa Dam, Rizal

20. Discover Adventure Sports in the Philippines

For the adrenaline junkies, there are a wide variety of heart-pumping activities that you can do while in the country. One of these is tandem skydiving. Forget about the drones, see the aerial view with your own eyes.

These are the places where you can go skydiving:

Bantayan Island, Cebu

Clark, Pampanga

Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Mati, Davao Oriental

Subic Bay, Zambales

21. The Philippines is one of the very few places where you can find Tarsiers

which are tiny nocturnal primates that live in dense forests. There are many of them in the island of Bohol. However, these six-inch cuddly-looking creatures are already endangered, so you must not miss the opportunity to see while you still can.

22. Visiting the Philippines is affordable

When traveling around the Philippines, your money will go a long way. From the food to booze to tour packages, almost everything is affordable in the Philippines. Even a bottle of beer, or a meal, can cost less than 1 USD.

23. The unique Filipino cuisine will surprise you

The Filipino cuisine has Western and Oriental influences, which make it deliciously unique. Each region also has their different specialties. However, what you must not miss out on is the fresh seafood.

24. Everbody speaks English

Another convenient thing about traveling in the Philippines is that the language barrier is less likely to be a problem as a huge percentage of the population can speak and understand English.

25. Filipinos will be nice to you

Last but not least, they say that the Filipino hospitality is incomparable. A lot of foreigners keep coming back to the Philippines, not just because of its natural wonders, but because of the friendly and welcoming people who make everyone feel like family.

So did these 25 reasons to Travel the Philippines convince you to explore this tropical destination? I hope so because it will be worth every minute of your holiday.

Yesterday I went to one of the islands of Istanbul, Büyükada and I found something really interesting. On the top of a hill. Hiding behind some trees: A wooden building that is considered to be the second largest one of the world. So I did some research and to my surprise this building has a really impressive story. But let me start from the beginning:

THE HISTORY

It was constructed in 1898 by a French architect as a luxury hotel and casino with the name Prinkipo Palace. However, the sultan at that time didn’t like the plan and eventually did not give the permission to operate a casino and hotel there. So it was sold in 1903 and bought by the wife of a prominent Greek banker, Eleni Zarifi. She donated the house to the orthodox church which operated it as an orphanage for Greek children.

The house was built entirely using wooden materials and has 206 rooms, a large kitchen, a grand library, a primary school and various vocational schools.
15 people were employed in the orphanage and During the 60 years it catered to the needs of more than 5000 orphans.

In 1964 during the Cyprus issue, the orphanage was forcefully closed and since then it’s decaying and abandoned. There are some legal disputes regarding the building and a lot of money is involved, but the condition of the building is already really really bad and it is to be hoped that the reconstruction will start before it’s too late.

IS THE HOUSE HAUNTED?

People say that there was a fire when the building served as an orphanage, And it is also told that some children burned during the fire. So there was a child that tried to escape and jumped into the well in the garden. In the searches that were made after the fire nobody was thinking about looking into the well and the child had no other choice than dying. Nowadays the people of the island are still telling ghost stories about this place and they even claim that they occasionally hear children scream from the orphanage at night.

HOW TO GET THERE?

It Is possible to visit the building from the outside but not permitted to get inside. However, getting there is quite easy when you are on the island anyway. As it’s located on a hill in the center of the island you can just walk there within 30 minutes from the harbour or take the bike or one of the horse carriages if you are really lazy. Once you’re there, there is a huge barb wire fence. It is not allowed to get inside of the building or the property as it’s falling apart and it’d be really dangerous. Anyway it’s already breathtaking to walk around the fence and look from the outside. I heard that it might be possible to get on the property by asking the people that actually live there and taking care of the building. But I haven’t tried it myself.

It’s a really mystical place and the view of these wooden houses is pretty impressive. It’s a shame that legal disputes and ownership fights are in the way of rebuilding this unique place. It is just to be hoped that there will be a solution before the house will be destroyed forever.

ENGLISH

Günaydin!

If you are a cat person Then this city is for you! No matter where you are or what you do – in Istanbul you won’t be alone. Because cats are EVERYWHERE!

They are the kings and queens of the streets and everybody loves them! But why are there so many cats in Istanbul? “If you kill a cat, you need to build a mosque to gain God’s forgiveness!” That’s what an Islamic legend says.

And even today the locals are looking after them, feeding them and giving them shelter! No matter their religion.

Most of the cats here seem lucky, but there is still a long way to go. After all the streets are not designed for animals.

Volunteers invest their free time to look after injured cats, initiate spay & neuter programs and even organize fundraising events. To give cats a better life. And this help will never stop.

Istanbul is a great example of people, who selflessly dedicate their time and energy to street cats and an even better example that animals don’t need to be pets to be loved.

Click here to get directly forwarded to the Pinterest Group Board “Awesome Travel Videos”

Video is the future. And therefore Pinterest introduced a new function to share videos on its platform. A huge step forward! With the new video function of Pinterest it is now possible to share video content and to watch videos directly in the pinterest feed.

To make it more efficient for video producers and in particular travel videographers it makes sense to share the video content in a group board to increase your reach, organize travel videos in a collection and to connect with other collaborators of the same niche.

Areyou a travel videographer? Join this board to show your adventures & travel videos! Click here to get forwarded to the Pinterest Group Board “Awesome Travel Videos”

How to be part of the group board:

6 group board rules

(1) Limit pins to 3 images/videos a day
(2) Post ONLY vertical photos
(3) Pins should have a link to a video
(4) NO commercial sites
(5) NO duplicate posts
(6) Not a requirement, but try to repin another pin on the board each time you add a pin

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It’s this time of the year again – Vlogmas time! As the year comes to an end it’s a good chance to finish with a strong month full of valuable content for your audience. The idea is simple but powerful: Uploading a new video every day until X-mas that draws attention and hopefully some new people to your platform. To give you some inspiration for travel related content get through the list below and start planning your vlogmas month!

1. The why and what. Introduce yourself and inform your followers why you’re doing vlogmas and that they can expect daily videos!

2. Your favorite city. Portrait your favorite city and show why it’s just awesome to be there

3. Food. Share some good restaurants or food spots of your current city or (if applicable) share some christmas food traditions

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This time I was facing 4 full days of hitchhiking 2.500km from the North Cape down to Oslo: Solo! As much as I enjoy hitchhiking and sharing the adventure with a friend it’s also fun to hitchhike solo. This video is part 2 of my hitchhiking trip through Scandinavia.

I love having the ultimate freedom to do whatever I want and to go wherever it takes me. On this trip I met really awesome people who gave me a lift including two bloggers living their life in a van with their dog, tourist guides from Geiranger who invited me to go picking mushrooms with them and drinking mate tea in their camper van, a polish family that took me on a sightseeing ride through Trollstigen and many more.

The funny part was when I met again a Ukranian family in Norway who gave us a lift in Finland a few days ago!

Even though I’ve been hitchhiking alone a few times, it’s always a new challenge for me. It’s not that I’m completely fearless when I decide to hitchhike. But somehow it’s tempting to meet other people, experiencing these spontaneous moments and exploring places you would never see otherwise.

We spent hours waiting, drank beer with other hitchhikers, loved the little things, got stranded at night and were taken in by strangers, drivers took us hundreds of kilometers, we survived the cold weather, made new friendships and above all: We have never given up.

We have experienced so much in those 7 days that it’s impossible to put it in words.

Our journey took us through 7 countries and was marked by long car rides, encounters with incredibly nice people and a constant change of climate and nature around us. Yes, the way was the goal and it showed us the most beautiful corners of the North. It was not about being the fastest and making it first, but making the impossible possible. It was about accompanying people for 3,500km and what we found was helpfulness and kindness and a lot of trust.

After 7 days and 28 car trips we were finally there. Not first, but that was a minor matter. It was cold, windy and foggy just as you imagine the end of the world would be like. But this feeling when we arrived can not be described.

It was a mix of happiness, joy, relief and freedom.

We made it and the journey was our adventure. We met people we would have never met, seen places we would have never dreamed of and experienced countless magical moments.

We had reached our end of the world, but for me it was also the beginning of a new challenge: 2600km way back. Hitchhiking by myself through Norway. (To be continued).

Many do not understand why people would hitchhike. But once you get out there and the first car stops, hitchhiking is much more than just waiting for hours and sitting in the car all the time.

What made the trip so memorable? The little things that became the big moments of happiness on the way and which made us forget the long wait.

It is just a nice feeling that there is a direct mutual trust without much thought between the driver and oneself.

The trip was really tough: We did not know where to sleep, when we are able to shower the next time, were freezing during the night and had a lot of of instant noodles. But at some point comes that little magical moment that makes you forget everything around you and you’re just so thankful for what you have and that happiness is simply indescribable.

We were 100% dependent on the help of strangers. With a tent and a lot of instant noodles in our luggage, we discovered not only the North but also ourselves.

After 7 days and the help of 28 drivers we finally made it and reached our designated end of the world. It was cold, windy and foggy just as you imagine the end of the world. But we had each other and a lot of stories that needed to be told.

Hitchhiking is a very special way of traveling and requires a lot of patience and calm nerves. But never before have I felt so free.

You meet people you would never meet. You see places you would never reach, you make friendships that would never come up, and most of all, you become part of many small trips and write your own big crazy story.

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Good Morning! Today I’m in a part of Berlin that is known for its expensive coffee, organic grocery stores, mothers with strollers and vegan hipsters.

Welcome to Prenzlauer Berg!

But what actually should get more attention is the artistic freedom you can find here. The people who live here enjoy life. They have creative talents and share their creativity with everyone.

Music, street art, fashion, painting, architecture, literature.

There is always something to discover.

It’s true that Prenzlauer Berg is only a small part of Berlin, but with a population of more than 160k the district can be considered a big city. Woow!

And everyone tries to express the same thing: in their own way: to have the power to do and think whatever you want.

And that brings us together!

But where is the (Prenzel) hill? Right there. The Prenzel hill consists of the rubble from World War II.

And the great thing about Prenzlauer Berg, is not the expensive cafés or organic grocery stores but the fact that a rubble hill transformed into a green park and became the origin of one of the most trendy neighbourhoods in Berlin.

That’s so unbelievable!

And if you ever stroll around in Prenzlauer Berg, you will realize: there’s more than just expensive coffee.

I started making videos when I was 12 years old and never stopped running around with a camera in my hand since then.

My passion for traveling and discovering new places made me realize how beautiful this world is and that we all should capture it! The unfortunate thing is that sometimes you don’t really know what your passion is or how to follow your dreams.

Don’t worry, one day you’ll figure it out. I figured it out after 12 freaking years.

Becoming a travel video creator is a process that takes a lot of time and doesn’t happen over night. It’s like a big puzzle and step by step you’ll see what the big picture is all about.

I knew that I wanted to become a filmmaker when I was in high school. So I applied for a film school, got rejected and entered the world of business and sales instead. An industry that made me feel miserable, but save. I earned money and knew that I’d always get a job. So what was my problem?

“If you don’t do what you love, you have two choices: Change what you do or change what you love.”

And believe me, to change what you love is very very hard. But I tried. And it made me feel the worst I ever felt in my life. Doing something you don’t love changed me to a person that was unhappy with life, unmotivated to do anything and tired. All. The. Time.

I had to quit my job. Move away from Germany. Leave everything behind me. And just concentrate on myself. And finally do what I love. Even if that means that I have to take that road alone.

Where this journey will take me? I don’t know. Nobody knows where they will end up.

But if we risk nothing, then we risk everything. So let’s go on adventures out there and let’s create content that makes us remember our life.

Affordable cost of living

The Philippines is such an affordable place to live in. There are apartments, dorms, and even condos, everywhere that cater to different types of budget. You can even rent a condo with resort-like facilities that do not cost as much as those in other countries.

Also, most things, including supplies and services, would also cost less in the Philippines. However, in some cases, it could also mean that you are going to get lower quality, but not all the time. Most expats would agree as well that dining in the Philippines is very affordable. You can already get a decent and filling meal for just $3 or less.

Fast Wi-Fi, air-conditioned Internet Cafés and modern shopping malls

You’ll be surprised how developed the Philippines are in many parts of the country. While there are a lot of local restaurants and small shops to explore you’ll also be able to work focused in an internet café or a calm coffee place with reliable internet in a shopping mall or coworking space. Surely small islands and remote villages rarely have access to Wi-Fi or even electricity, but I would spare those destinations for an offline weekend trip! 🙂

Growing Digital Nomad Community and Coworking Spaces

Especially in bigger cities like Manila, Cebu, Davao City and Iloilo City you’ll find a lot of coworking spaces and like-minded people to share your ideas with. It might still be a more unexplored country for the digital nomad community but if you prefer being one of the people that’d like to influence the digital nomad evolution from the beginning – that’s your place!

Everyone speaks English

Sometimes it can be really frustrating not to be able to share ideas and connect with locals due to language barriers. The good thing is that one of the national languages of the Philippines (beside Tagalog and the “island languages”) is English and everyone understands (at least the basics) what you are trying to tell them. It’s a good feeling and makes it much easier to fit in and establish friendships with Filipinos.

Traveling around the country is cheap

Traveling around this Southeast Asian country is very cheap as well. The rates on air travel are very affordable, plus there are often seat sales that would cost less than $20 for a round trip flight. However, these seats sell out very quickly as a lot of people would look out for it as soon as the sale is announced, so you need to act quickly too! Sea travel are also often cheap, even without promos, at around $10-$20, depending on the shipping line and destination.

There are a lot of decent hotels and resorts that are also very cheap, especially in the provincial, non-commercialized areas. For less than $50, you can stay at a resort with a great view and a swimming pool. There are also nice hotels in the cities that would cost as cheap as $10. Just make sure you check the reviews online first before booking, so you get the quality service that you expect.

Tours are also quite affordable in the Philippines. For example, in Cebu, you can rent a boat for island hopping at only around $40. This would usually accommodate 10-20 people. In Siargao, you can go island hopping with a bunch of other tourists for less than $30 per person. And that already comes with food and beverages. While tour guides may charge foreign tourists a higher price than what they charge locals in some places, it still does not really cost much, plus, you can haggle your way through it.

Beaches, beaches everywhere

With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is the homes to plenty of beaches. While there are commercialized beaches like the White Beach in Boracay and Alona Beach in Panglao, there are also many more secluded beaches scattered all over the country. Some may be more challenging to access, but they are surely worth the effort. There’s nothing better than having the whole beach to yourself, right?

The Philippines also boasts of its many pristine white sand beaches and clear, turquoise waters. However, the country also has several brown and black sand beaches, if you want to try something else. Plus, the marine life is vibrant and so diverse, which would make snorkeling or diving a great idea if you’re exploring the country’s different islands.

Tons of picturesque views and stunning landscapes

This beautiful country has hundreds of natural wonders that would be the perfect subjects for photography, whether you’re an expert or are just trying to learn the craft. From picture-perfect beaches to stunning vistas, to underwater life, to huge surfing waves, to limestone cliffs- the Philippines’ natural beauty never fails to wow anyone and there will always be enough content for your blog and instagram.

Lively and vibrant festivals

As mentioned earlier, the Philippines has over 7,000 islands. It also has over a hundred cities and 81 provinces, and each of these has their own festivals or “fiestas” as the locals call it. Every month, there is a festival happening somewhere. Attending a festival is a great way to immerse oneself in the Filipino culture and history.

Some of the most popular festivals that should not be missed include the Ati-Atihan in Aklan, Panagbenga in Baguio, Sinulog in Cebu, MassKara in Bacolod, Kadayawan in Davao, Dinagyang in Iloilo, and the Moriones in Marinduque.

Cheap beers and bars for socializing

If you have read up about the Philippines in the past, you would have noticed that most tourists would say that the beer is very cheap in the country. Well, that’s just the truth. Sometimes, it can even be cheaper than water or juice, especially in restaurants and bars! Even a bucket of beer, which has about 4 to 6 bottles, would cost less than $4. While you may skip on alcoholic beverages when you’re visiting other countries as these would hurt your budget, getting yourself a bottle while in the Philippines would feel like you didn’t even spend at all.

It’s summer all year round

One of the best things about living in the Philippines is that it’s summer all year round. The weather is always just around 20-30°C, and it’s mostly sunny, except for when storms come in. While there are cold climate areas in the country that would require you to wear jackets, like Baguio City, you are more likely to wear a t-shirt and a pair of shorts in most parts. That’s a very attractive thing for digital nomads and one of the reasons why working remotely is so popular on the Philippines for foreigners.

Accessibility to fresh fruits and healthy meals

The Philippines is a heaven of fresh tropical fruits, just like mangoes, bananas, papayas, guavas, pineapples, watermelons, and many more. What’s even better is that these are available all year round and are often very affordable. As the Filipino cuisine offers a lot of “unhealthy” fried meals there are also a lot of healthy choices. Visit the food markets and you will leave with your bag filled with avocados, bananas, vegetables and fresh fish.

BBQ and Food Markets everywhere

You won’t even have to worry about going hungry when you start to live in the Philippines because there’s affordable and delicious food everywhere, especially barbecue for the meat lovers! It’s literally everywhere. You can choose from different types of meats like pork, chicken, and fish, and there are even barbecued pork blood and chicken intestines. While it doesn’t sound that pleasant, it is actually pretty good and flavorful!

Filipinos love for Music and Karaoke

Filipinos also have a great love for music, hence the karaoke bars everywhere! It’s also the home to some of the world’s amazing singers! You can be sure that you’ll have a ton of additional friends after a karaoke night out.

The people

Lastly, the best thing about living in the Philippines are the people. Filipinos are naturally so friendly and hospitable. They always have a smile on their faces no matter what they are going through. Even those who have dire living situations still laugh and are usually very easy going. They would gladly provide you assistance when you need help and are often very respectful.